Dame Judi Dench - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sequel in development

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sequel in development

A sequel to 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' is in the pipeline.

Screenwriter Ol Parker is said to be delivering a script for a follow-up to the 2011 original film - which tells the story of a group of retired Brits who move to a newly-restored hotel in India - to Fox Searchlight studios next month.

According to Vulture, cast members including Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and Dame Maggie Smith are reportedly willing to reprise their roles for the second film but whether John Madden will return to direct has not been mentioned.

The comedy-drama movie was based on author Deborah Moggach's novel 'These Foolish Things' and became a huge success at the box office after it's release last year, making a whopping $130 million worldwide from a budget of just $10 million.

In the meantime, Judi can be seen reprising her role as agent M in the new James Bond film 'Skyfall' while Maggie returns to the big screen in January 2013 alongside stars Billy Connolly and Sheridan Smith in Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut 'Quartet'.